Washington Apple Pi the pi Journal Your Digital World

March – April 2011 Volume 33, No. 2

1 of 36 Washington Apple Pi

President Jay Castillo Journal [email protected] March – April 2011 Treasurer Raju Tonapi [email protected] Volume 33, No. 2 Secretary Gordon Nord [email protected] Directors Len Adler [email protected] Jonathan Bernstein [email protected] Thomas Carlson [email protected] Neil Ferguson [email protected] Ken Goldman [email protected] Deadlines Robert Huttinger Writers’ submissions: [email protected] Bing Inocencio May–June 2011 — March 31, 2011 [email protected] July–August 2011 — May 30, 2011 Larry Kerschberg [email protected] Copyright Notice Diana King © COPYRIGHT 2011, by Washington Apple Pi, Ltd. [email protected] Anyone wishing to reprint material from this publication must first obtain permission. Such Richard Orlin requests may be sent by email to [email protected] or by postal mail to the Pi office [email protected] Dick Nugent care of Washington Apple Pi Journal Editor. When reprinting any portion of the contents [email protected] herein, proper author, title, and publication credits must be given. A copy of the article as Managing Editor Jay Castillo printed must be sent to Washington Apple Pi, 12022 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852. [email protected] Review Editor Lawrence I. Charters Contacting Washington Apple Pi [email protected] Washington Apple Pi, Ltd. Senior Copy Editor Patsy Chick 12022 Parklawn Drive [email protected] Copy Editors Diana King Rockville, MD 20852 [email protected] Business Office: 301/984-0300 [message] Design & Production Nora Korc [email protected] Web address: http://www.wap.org Event Photographer Richard Sanderson E-mail address: [email protected] [email protected]

Washington Apple Pi  Comments to: [email protected] Journal March – April 2011 2 of 36 Table of Contents

Cover Photo, pages 3, 8, and 32: "Digital Globe" © Vasiliy Yakobchuk, iStockphoto.com Editor’s Column By Jay Castillo...... 4 President’s Page: Now is the Time… By Jay Castillo...... 5

Pi Comic...... 6

Quotable Quotes...... 7 Preserving Memories: My Adventure in Digitizing Family Slides By Diana King...... 8 Troubleshooting With Plist Files By Jay Castillo...... 11 Going Paperless @ Home By Neil McNamara...... 13 Spam Words By Bob Jarecke...... 15 ZAGGmate w/Keyboard By Kevin W . Parker...... 17 Clicking the Right Button By Joe Kissell ...... 19 Coming To Grips With The Snowball Microphone By Bill Kingsley...... 23 My Adventures Transcribing Audio Recordings into Meeting Minutes By Neil Ferguson ...... 26 Tips & Tricks: Appearance settings, navigating in Numbers, and enlarging images in Finder By Bob Jarecke...... 28 Pi Comic...... 31 Washington Apple Pi Meetings...... 32 Volunteer Opportunities: Members Helping Members ...... 33

Parting Words...... 35

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 3 of 36 Editor's Page

Editor’s Column By Jay Castillo

igitize your data. Organize your important documents and memorabilia. Save the trees!

DIn this edition of the Journal, we feature a couple of articles on your digital life, and how you can take advantage of the software and storage capacity available to your Apple devices. These articles are about going paperless, and scanning and organizing your slide collection. We will also focus on your digital life over the next couple of general meetings.

Also included in this issue is a review of the ZAGGMate iPad case with attached Bluetooth keyboard, an article about troubleshooting with plist files, and a note on spam keywords. We have the usual Tips & Tricks, and important information for you about Pi activities and benefits.

How about some culture and art? Some years ago I collected a list of humorous computer error messages composed as haiku. This is a form of Japanese poetry originating in the early 17th century. Traditionally, it is a poem of three lines, with 5,7, and 5 syllables each, for a total of 17 syllables. We selected a few of our favorites for one of our humor pages in this issue. Take a look, and perhaps compose some of your own, that we can publish in a future issue.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 4 of 36 President’s Page

Now is the Time… By Jay Castillo

To Join the Pi BOD We will soon hold elections for new members for the Pi Board of Directors. The Board consists of fifteen members, each serving a three-year term. Each year, one third of the members’ terms expire. As a result we will have at least five vacancies to fill. Any member whose term has ended can serve on the Board longer, but they will have to run for re-election. Any Pi member in good standing (that’s anybody whose membership is paid in full) is eligible to run for election to the Board. A member may nominate himself or herself, or someone else. Nominations close at midnight on March 31. The election starts on May 1 and ends May 30, in order that the new Board can be constituted in June.

To Do What? The bylaws provide that “The business and affairs of WAP shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise all powers of the Corporation and perform all lawful acts and things which are not by law, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or performed by or are conferred upon or reserved to the members.” ( http://www.wap.org/about/pibylaws0401.html) Simply put, the Board of Directors ensures that the legal, financial, and practical obligations of the Pi are properly executed. The Board also provides oversight for the provision of benefits and services to the Pi members.

It’s Not Rocket Science You need not be a lawyer, accountant, or hedge fund manager to carry out the Board’s responsibilities. The willingness to work as part of a team, and to have your colleagues’ best interests in mind, gets most things done. As Woody Allen said, “Ninety per cent of life is just showing up.” So if you are interested in joining the Pi Board, send a brief statement of your interest and background to [email protected]. The sooner, the better.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 5 of 36 Pi Comic

Is he still Yup, still there! watching? GulP! he’s Still Watching... What was I saying?

the Pi President rides herd over general Meeting activities.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 6 of 36 Quotable Quotes

Email Server Behavior* Geek Speak

Recently on the TCS* a Pi member sought For the more advanced computer user, see advice about Apple Mail acting up. It if the quote below about Open DNS* makes seemed that Mail was marking some any sense. The Domain Name System (DNS) random messages that the user had read serves as the phone book for the Internet as unread, on its own initiative. The by translating human-friendly computer forum response concisely pointed out the hostnames into IP addresses. distinctions between IMAP and POP email accounts and the importance of knowing Recent technical articles have suggested which account type you are dealing with the benefits of using Open DNS and Google DNS when things go awry. in place of whatever your ISP provides. And both have benefit: both are refreshed more often, so tend to be more likely to detect changes on the TCS Forum quote Internet. BUT — you need to talk to your ISP, first, before you can even reach these The most significant of many moving parts in other DNS sources, and ditching your ISP’s DNS settings could put you on the dark this story would be the server to which you’re side of the moon, without even Pink Floyd to rescue you. Using something other connecting and the protocol with which than your ISP’s DNS, for example, may cut you off from E-mail, if you are using you’re doing so. If you’re dealing with an your ISP’s E-mail service. Or may cut you off from everything, if you use dynamic IMAP server, for instance, the concept of read- IP service (which you do) and something goes wrong. or-not is the responsibility of the server. If . . . There are some obscure privacy risks with using Open DNS and Google’s DNS you’re using POP, it becomes the responsibility service. “Obscure” as in “yes, in a laboratory environment someone can prove of the client — but remains susceptible to that there may be issues since you are sending DNS requests clear across the open relatively minor adjustments from within the Internet instead of locally to your ISP,” but in practice, unless you are very wealthy server should it choose to calculate message or engaged in some kind of terrorist activity, you probably aren’t worth the effort IDs at all differently on a given day. There for someone to spy on you. are interesting pitfalls in either case worth pursuing, but you’d need to start with those * A full discussion of the Open DNS topic can be found on the TCS Forums. Just details known. do a search for the topic using the recently updated search feature. Searching *Source: TCS item #13894 “Unread” the TCS Forums for any topic is much improved and quick too.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 7 of 36 Digital Life

Preserving Memories: My Adventure in Digitizing Family Slides By Diana King

all me crazy. Ever since my father died in 1996 and I models we amateurs enjoy today. Besides, I wanted the pleasure inherited his collection of slides, I have been thinking of viewing the images myself and trying to identify the people about ways to digitize them. There is more than family and locations in them. Cheritage at stake, for among his slides are pictures of the damage on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, from the March Nor’easter of The whole project was daunting, however. There were hundreds Figure 1. 12-slide rack that 1962. These images may have historical significance. The deaths of slides covering about 15 years, and when I first tried scanning comes with Epson V700 Photo of my mother’s older sister and her husband gave me possession one on an ordinary scanner, the result was disappointing. I scanner of their collection as well, and they also had slides of this event. realized that I would need a different kind of scanner, not only more powerful but able to handle more than one or two slides I know, I know, there are at a time, unless I wanted to spend the whole of my remaining commercial services that will time on earth doing this. I also wanted a Mac faster than my convert old slides to digital strawberry iMac and a larger Firewire external drive for storage. images, but even after I found out about them I hesitated to Getting Ready go that route. One reason was After doing some research about scanners, I settled on the Epson my reluctance, as a believer Perfection V700 Photo, which has a rack that takes 12 slides at a in Murphy’s Law, to let the time. So I bought one online. I also bought the new large-screen slides out of my possession for iMac and a new external drive. The project then went on hold for any amount of time. Another quite a while because of my job, my husband’s declining health, was uncertainty about cost and various other matters. Eventually I retired, my husband and the thought of paying to passed away, and finally last summer I found time to get started create digital files from slides on the project in earnest. of unknown, and possibly poor, quality. My father and First I had to give some thought to the way I intended to use the uncle, who mostly handled images after they were preserved. Who would ever want to look the cameras, were far from at them? How would they access them? Would they want to use professional photographers, software to enhance them? Would they want to print or share? and the cameras of the 1950s and '60s were far from the Since many of these pictures are of family members, the answer advanced point-and-shoot to the first question was obvious: my sons and grandchildren,

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 8 of 36 Digital Life

my brother and his kids, all the surviving aunts (no uncles left, about any computer, even older Windows ones. On the other unfortunately) and cousins in my mother’s family, my husband’s hand, TIFFs are not compressed, and they would give a better niece, and a couple of dear friends. But the question of access result if the recipient wanted to enlarge them or play with any was trickier. I assumed that living relatives had some degree photo enhancement software. Additionally, newer versions of of computer skill, but which kinds of computers and which Windows do recognize the TIFF format. operating systems and what ability to manipulate images they Figure 2. An aerial shot of Long have are much harder to guess. Diving In Beach Island, NJ, during the I began with my uncle’s four carousels of slides. That’s about 400 March storm of 1962. Origi- I pondered these questions while experimenting with the Epson slides, for those of you who don’t remember slide projectors and nal slide taken by G. Maynard scanner software and came to the conclusion that I would their carousels. In the interest of saving time, I also decided that Watkins (the author's uncle), scan the slides at 600 dpi and save them as TIFF files in a 4x6 I would not do any enhancements myself during the scanning scanned as TIFF, sharpened in size. These choices were in line with what the scanner manual process. Immediately I had to make more decisions about how to iPhoto. recommended. I knew that JPEGs are more likely to open on just organize the files on the hard drive (chronologically? by subject matter? by location?) and how to name them. The program assigns numbers automatically, but numbers aren’t much help to the person who wants to view the photos years from now. Fortunately my uncle had diligently filled in the indexes on the carousel boxes with information about the slides. Unfortunately, he hadn’t really grouped the slides themselves in a logical way, so a picture of a nephew in the surf was liable to be followed by a group shot of Thanksgiving dinner. So after the images were on the hard drive in a folder, I had to sort them into subfolders by decades or holiday parties or something.

All of this actually took less time than I had expected — a few hours a day spread over a couple of weeks last July when it was too hot to work in the garden. My goal was to create some CDs of my uncle’s slides and send them to one aunt in time for her 81st birthday in early August. Last time I visited her in New Jersey, she was using a 2002 model iMac (the kind with the half- soccer-ball base) to check her stock investments, so I thought she could probably view TIFF files. Also, her son Paul, who lives with her, has a degree in finance, so I thought it likely that he uses a computer. They would be my beta testers, I decided. I emailed him and told him to expect the CDs and to let me know whether they were able to open the files.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 9 of 36 Digital Life

Complications of his side of the family, but not my relatives. I was able to send my “oldest” friend It took three CDs to hold all the TIFF versions of my uncle’s slides. I sent them off, — we met in seventh grade — pictures from the cruise we took to Nassau in 1963. and waited to find out how my aunt and cousin would react to this first batch. It She was so delighted that she wrote to say she had put them in a special album. was disappointing—although not really surprising—to hear from Paul after a week or two that he could not open the files on his Windows PC. “What about the iMac?” I could, of course, use other methods of sharing these pictures, including putting I asked. Well, that machine wasn’t currently hooked up; they couldn’t find the some online. But there are so many that it doesn’t seem practical. The Epson power cord. Inquiring further, I learned that his PC was still running XP and he was software’s numbers go to 999 and start over — and they did, on my father’s and clueless about what .tif and .jpg meant. So — back to the drawing board. I asked husband’s slides. Paul to be patient until I could convert the files to a format that his PC would understand (even if he didn’t). Another thing I’ll have to figure out is which, if any, images I want to import into iPhoto or Photoshop Elements and try to improve through cropping or whatever. I thought about possible ways of doing batch conversions of TIFFs to JPEGs and There are many that could use some help, especially in Dad’s group. But all that is ultimately decided that Graphic Converter was the way to go. The download is only for later. around $40. In November (life had intervened again) I did the batch conversions, burned a new CD, and mailed it off. I was able to get all the files onto a single CD Can my experience be of help to anyone who might still have old slides stored in because of their smaller size. Just after Thanksgiving my aunt phoned me herself a closet and wonders whether to pitch them in the trash or spend time and/or to tell me how thrilled she was with the pictures and how impressed she was money digitizing? I know I am glad I finally did the work on mine. It wasn’t as hard with their clarity. She was planning to print some and send them to other family as I had feared it might be, and I found a great deal of pleasure in reminiscing as members. I viewed the slides. The biggest expense was the Epson scanner (around $600), but it did a great job of speeding up the process, and I am glad I bought it. Incidental Feeling good about that success, I hauled out my father’s and my husband’s slides. expenses were the Graphic Converter software and the stacks of CDs and cases. The I thought maybe I could do some other compilations in time for Christmas. Well, new iMac and hard drive were items I was going to buy anyway, so I don’t count that didn’t happen. There were just too many slides and too many other holiday them as part of this project’s cost. events. But there was one other key decision to make anyway. Briefly second- guessing my choice of format, I tried scanning a few of Dad’s slides as JPEGs. The Besides, it was all worth it when I got a letter last week from my Aunt Jean. When quality was so much worse, though, that I went back to TIFF. I had mailed her a CD of all the photos in January, I had apologized for not having sent a Christmas card this year. She replied that the CD was worth at least 10 years Rewards of Christmas cards. Between Christmas and New Year’s I finally finished all the TIFF scanning and made backups. I am now engaged in making collections tailored to different If you are interested in the Epson scanner, here’s a page showing various models: recipients. For instance, my college roommate received a CD with pictures from our http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/ProductCategory.do?BV_ graduation and her wedding. My husband’s niece (his sister’s daughter) got pictures UseBVCookie=yes&oid=-16223

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 10 of 36 Software Tutorial

Troubleshooting With Plist Files By Jay Castillo

reference files, or plist files as they are known, are important for the proper functioning of your Mac computer. They are also useful tools when you are trying to solve problems with applications, both those that are Ppart of the operating system and those you have installed yourself. What are they? Apple defines plist files as follows:

Preference file, also known as a “properties file,” used by Mac OS Figure 1. Where to find system level plist files X applications; formatted in XML and based on Apple’s Core Foundation DTD; contains properties and configuration settings for various programs.

Hence, when you change the System Preferences, or any application preferences, the changes you make to the default settings are written to the appropriate plist file.

How to Find Plist Files Usually, a preference file is named after the application that links to it, and all preference files end in “.plist.” For example, for Mail, the preference file is called com.apple.mail.plist. The beginning part of the name (“com.apple”) identifies the vendor that created the application. This insures that no two preference files will have the same name. Even if another company creates a program called Mail, its plist file will not contain the word “apple,” so there should be no confusion as to which plist file is which.

Plist files are found in two locations. The first is at the system level. Open a Finder window and click on your hard drive icon (see Figure 1). Then click on Library>Preferences. You will now see the preferences for system-wide applications, such as Bluetooth, that all accounts can use. The second location is your home folder (Figure 2). Again, the path is Library>Preferences. These preferences only apply to your particular choices when using an application.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 11 of 36 Software Tutorial

Solving A Problem If you have an application that is crashing or otherwise functioning strangely, you away, the plist file was the culprit, and the old file can be discarded. If, however, may have a corrupted plist file. It’s easy to test. the problem persists, the original plist file can be replaced, reestablishing your custom settings. I followed this step with iTunes, and it cured my problem. Recently I was trying to import some CDs into iTunes. One of the menu choices I needed to use was greyed out, and I didn’t think it should have been. I tried the same import procedure using an account I have created and use only for troubleshooting problems. I was able to accomplish my import in this account. I then knew that the problem was specific to my personal account and not a general fault with the operating system. When I went to my account preferences to find the Figure 2. Where to find user preference files. iTunes plist file (Figure 2), I was surprised to find almost 30 iTunes plist files! At first I was uncertain which to choose. Then I noticed that all the plist filenames but one ended with a random string of letters and numbers. Consulting the Apple Discussions site, I discovered that this was a known issue and that all these files with long names contained zero bits. Only the first iTunes plist file contained content — and thus only this plist file was valid.

If you have a problem application you should locate the plist file for that application and…throw it away! Move the file to your Desktop or to the Trash. Restart the application, and the preference file will be reconstituted with default settings. If the problem goes

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 12 of 36 Software Tutorial

Going Paperless @ Home By Neil McNamara

confluence of events resulted in my ending the practice of My first experience with going paperless involved photographs. Go Paperless! filing various bits of paper at home. I eased into the process I wanted to preserve my old photographs before they deteriorated. with some trepidation, but after a couple of years I can I wanted to have them all in one place, on my Mac. I used the scanner honestlyA say, I am a digital junky, and it feels great! function of the Canon all-in-one device, and the machine and process Figure 1. Finder is my met my expectations. All my photo images are readily available and tool of choice for filing The whole process started when I bought my first Mac in 2007. I took fully organized in one central location. The seed for similarly scanning away my digitized advantage of the $100 printer rebate offer and also brought home a paper documents had been planted. records. As you can Canon all-in-one printer/scanner/copier/fax. I figured I wouldn’t need see, my whole life — the printer, but the other functions would come in handy. I was right. Financial and credit card companies were touting electronic at least the last four I rarely print with the all-in-one device, but I scan documents with it statements and monthly bills as a means to go green. I quickly years of it — is neatly almost daily. I now have nearly four years of records archived in what I discovered that it was easier to download and file a PDF document tucked away in just a describe as my Magical Filing Cabinet. than it was to add another paper statement or invoice to my desk few folders.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 13 of 36 Software Tutorial

drawer, which, by the way, was overflowing. I was reassured by the fact that of As you can see, there isn’t much to this story. The whole process is simple and all of the computers I have ever owned, I have never come close to filling up a fast, but the results speak volumes when it comes to saving space and having your hard drive. This was going to be a good move for me and my home office, with its records readily at hand. With a quick Spotlight search, I can find most anything in overburdened drawer space. seconds. Think about it. Maybe you will become a digital fanatic like I am.

Today my routine is to bring in the US mail, toss the junk, and scan the important stuff, which then gets tossed or shredded, as appropriate. I have progressed beyond saving just financial data; I have lots of household records archived as well. For example, my garage door has been acting up a lot in the past year. It’s 18 years old and showing its age. I have taken to scanning the invoices from the service calls so that I can see what it is costing me. (The result is that my wife and I have decided it is time to replace the door this spring.) I found it was equally useful to scan the invoices from the pesticide guy, our handyman when he comes, and anyone else we do business with. No paper record escapes being digitized in our house.

It is ridiculously easy to scan a document and file the image. In fact, my scanner has a document feeder so I can load several documents in the tray and then have the scanner do its magic with them all at once. This could be an important time saver if a person were to join the paperless ranks and had old records they wanted to scan into electronic files.

As for filing my digital records, I use the simplest of methods. The Mac OS X application Finder is more than adequate to build and organize folders to keep digital records. In my case, everything fits under a handful of categories in aptly named folders. As can be seen in Figure 1, fifteen folders pretty much covers all aspects of what we are saving in our household. As a resut, my files, which have become a vast archive of my life, are invisible. They rest comfortably inside my Mac, where they take up no physical space in my Magical Filing Cabinet.

As far as insuring that I don’t lose any of the files I have created, I have been diligently using the Time Machine application coupled with Apple’s Time Capsule. This saved my bacon in 2009 when the hard drive in my Mac failed. I took the computer in to the Apple Store, where the helpful guys at the Genius Bar replaced the hard drive, and I was able to restore my files from my last Time Machine Figure 2. My Canon PIXMA MX-310 all-in-one. This bad boy gets a real workout when backup. Because I had AppleCare on the Mac, Apple did the work for free. I lost no it comes to scanning. Oh, if I had a nickel for every piece of paper that has passed data and it cost me exactly zero. Sweet! over the glass on this machine!

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 14 of 36 Software Tutorial Spam Words By Bob Jarecke

In the article on spam in the last edition of the Journal, I mentioned that you Congratulations Free cell phone Insurance should avoid using certain words or phrases in your emails, if you want your Consolidate debt and Free consultation Investment decision message to get through. This is because, when spam filters scrutinize emails, credit Free DVD It’s effective they look for certain words and phrases that they consider suspect. If the suspect Copy accurately Free grant money Join millions of content registers a high enough point value, the spam filter will label the email as Copy DVDs Free hosting Americans spam and deal with it according to the spam preferences established. Credit bureaus Free installation Laser printer Credit card offers Free investment Limited time only Below is a list of words, phrases and content that spam filters read as suspect. Cures baldness Free leads Long distance phone The highlighted entries are the most notorious as perceived by SpamAssassin v Dear email Free membership offer 2.43. I got this list off the Internet, although I omitted all of the porn spam words Dear friend Free money Lose weight spam and phrases, to keep this article G-rated, Dear somebody Free offer Lower interest rates Different reply to Free preview Lower monthly payment Look over the list. Are you guilty of using any of this? Dig up dirt on friends Free priority mail Lowest price Direct email Free quote Luxury car 4U Bulk email Claims to be in Direct marketing Free sample Mail in order form Accept credit cards Buy direct accordance with some Discusses search engine Free trial Marketing solutions Act now! Don’t hesitate! Buying judgments spam law listings Free website Mass email Additional income Claims to be legal Do it today Full refund Meet singles Addresses on CD Cable converter Claims you are a winner Don’t delete Get it now Member stuff All natural Call free Claims you can be Drastically reduced Get paid Message contains Amazing Call now removed from the list Earn per week Get started now disclaimer Amazing stuff Calling creditors Claims you registered Easy terms Gift certificate Money back Apply Online Cannot be combined with with some kind of Eliminate bad credit Great offer Money making As seen on any other offer partner Email harvest Guarantee Month trial offer Billing address Cancel at any time Click below Email marketing More Internet traffic Auto email removal Can’t live without Click here link Expect to earn Have you been turned Mortgage rates Avoid bankruptcy Cash bonus Click to remove Fantastic deal down? Multi level marketing Be amazed Cashcashcash Click to remove mail to Fast Viagra delivery Hidden assets MLM Be your own boss Casino Collect child support Financial freedom Home employment Name brand Being a member Cell phone cancer scam Compare rates Find out anything Human growth hormone New customers only Big bucks Cents on the dollar Compete for your For free If only it were that easy New domain extensions Bill 1618 Check or money orderSpam! business For instant access In accordance with laws Nigerian Billion dollars Claims not to be selling Confidentially on all For just $ (some amt) Increase sales No age restrictions Brand new pager anything orders Free access Increase traffic No catch

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 15 of 36 Software Tutorial

No claim forms Outstanding values Serious only Weekend getaway No cost Pennies a day Shopping spree What are you waiting for? No credit check People just leave money Sign up free today While supplies last No disappointment laying around Social security number While you sleep No experience Please read Stainless steel Who really wins? No fees Potential earnings Stock alert Why pay more? No gimmick Print form signature Stock disclaimer Will not believe your eyes No inventory Print out and fax statement Winner No investment Produced and sent out Stock pick Winning No medical exams Profits Strong buy Work at home No middleman Promise you . . ! Stop snoring You have been selected No obligation Pure profit Stuff on sale Your income No purchase necessary Real thing Subject to credit No questions asked Refinance home Supplies are limited For the most part, the words, phrases, and content in this list No selling Removal instructions Take action now are geared toward a marketing or newsletter type of email. It No strings attached Remove in quotes Talks about hidden would be madness to try and hopscotch around these and other Not intended Remove subject charges targeted words in your personal email. The list is a reminder, Off shore Removes wrinkles Talks about prizes though, that if your email goes unanswered, it may not be Offer expires Reply remove subject Tells you it’s an ad because you are being ignored, but rather because the recipient Offers coupon Requires initial investment Terms and conditions didn’t see your email. Spam filters can be such pesky things! Offers extra cash Reserves the right The best rates Offers free (often stolen) Reverses aging The following form In case you are interested, I found another resource, at passwords Risk free They keep your money — http://codex.wordpress.org/Spam_Words, that has a long Once in lifetime Round the world no refund! laundry list of words and phrases pertaining to comments on One hundred percent free S 1618 They’re just giving it away blog pages. Yes, blog comment sections are subject to spamming One hundred percent Safeguard notice This isn’t junk too! The list was provided to bloggers to plug in to their blogging guaranteed Satisfaction guaranteed This isn’t spam software to filter out unwanted ads and other solicitations from One time mailing Save $ University diplomas within the comments section of their online blogs. Online biz opportunity Special promotion Unlimited Online pharmacy Save big money Unsecured credit/debt Only $ Save up to Urgent Opportunity Score with babes US dollars Opt in Search engine listings Vacation offers Order now Section 301 Viagra and other drugs Order status See for yourself Spam!Wants credit card Orders shipped by priority Sent in compliance We hate spam mail Serious cash We honor all

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 16 of 36 Hardware Review

ZAGGmate w/Keyboard By Kevin W. Parker

hen I first bought my iPad, I toed the Apple party line. I bought the up only a little more space than the iPad alone. The case does a good job of functional but drab Apple case, and the Apple iPad keyboard dock. protection as well. The ZAGGmate’s aircraft-grade aluminum, which matches the I chose the dockable keyboard over the Bluetooth version because I look of the iPad, and its high-density padding provide good protection for the Wwanted to be able to type with the iPad at an easily viewable angle rather than flat tablet. And it is elegant (see Figure 2). on a desktop. The ZAGGmate and iPad separate easily. The keyboard uses a Bluetooth interface, Buyer’s remorse set in quickly, once the novelty of having an iPad wore off. I soon so you have the option of either setting the iPad to one side and typing away, learned that there were far more elegant options for protecting one’s iPad, such or else standing the iPad up in a slot at the back of the keyboard and leaning it as the ColcaSac sleeve (http://www.colcasac.com/ipad-sleeve) or the DODOcase against the ZAGGmate’s folding hinge. So far, I’ve always used it in the standing (http://www.dodocase.com/). I also found that the Apple keyboard dock was position (see Figure 3). ungainly and awkward to pack, since the stand that supports the iPad does not fold (see Figure 1). Figure 3. The iPad sits in a slot behind the I dithered for months but finally settled on the ZAGGmate w/keyboard. The case keyboard, and rests against a folding hinge, so is compact, and so travels well. In position, the case and iPad combination take you can type with the iPad standing up at an easily viewable angle.

Figure 2. As you can see, the iPad plus ZAGGmate is only marginally Figure 1. The Apple keyboard doesn’t pack well for travelling. thicker than the iPad alone.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 17 of 36 Hardware Review

The primary disadvantage of the ZAGGmate I made extensive use of the iPad with the is that the keyboard is small compared with ZAGGmate on a recent visit to my parents. Pi Membership Benefit #3 the Apple keyboard. This is an issue for I had to spend several hours keeping up me because I have large hands (Figure 4) I with my job while there, for which I needed have also been annoyed at how quickly the Internet access. With dialup as the only The Journal keyboard’s battery runs down when I forget alternative available in the house, I used the and leave the Bluetooth interface on, which iPad’s cellular connection. The tablet sat in The Journal is an informative and educational reader produced is frequently. It would also be nice if there the keyboard on one side of the desk, while by the club’s Publications Committee on a bi-monthly basis. This were some way of stowing the ZAGGmate on my office laptop sat on the other side. For electronic publication is replete with articles from Pi members. the back of the iPad when you don’t need the offline activities, I used the laptop. When I There are also notices of club activities and occasional reprints keyboard but don’t want to just leave it lying needed to check or send emails or do some of articles that the editors feel the membership will find around. On balance, though, the advantages online research, I just turned to the iPad. This enlightening. The average number of pages for the periodical is a outweigh these disadvantages. was a very effective approach. The keyboard bit over 30. size was only a minor annoyance, and I prevented the battery rundown problem The content for the Journal is membership based, and thus the by just leaving the keyboard plugged in the periodical‘s articles are eclectic. There are recurring features too, entire time. such as the Tips & Tricks series, which gives short hints that may enhance the reader’s computing knowledge or skills. There is So I am very happy with the ZAGGmate even a comic or two to keep the reading light. A new series has w/keyboard, and would recommend it to just been added called One More Thing; it occupies the last page. anyone looking for a compact, elegant, Check it out! rugged solution to traveling with an iPad and keyboard. Washington Apple Pi

JournalJanuary – February 2011 The ZAGGmate w/ keyboard is Volume 33, No. 1 available for $99.99 directly from ZAGG (http://www.zagg.com/accessories/ zaggmate-ipad-case), from numerous mail-order retailers, or in-store at Best Buy. ZAGG also offers a Figure 4. The ZAGGmate keyboard is quite ZAGGmate iPad case without a How much a bit smaller than the Apple keyboard — keyboard, for $69.99. potentially a problem for those of us with can you take? large hands. 1 of 34

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 18 of 36 Mac Tutorial

Clicking the Right Button ©2010 Joe Kissell

The article below is reprinted from an entry on the TidBITS Web site and used with permission of the author, Joe Kissell. The URL for the article is http://db.tidbits.com/article/10859.

I would like to share with you a tiny personal frustration in joy for the rest of your days. I also have some other things to the hope that by doing so, I can eventually eliminate it. The say about that extra button that may be of interest to everyone, frustration is that in nearly every Mac-related book and article I however comfortable you may already be with a multi-button write, the Powers That Be require me to add cumbersome extra mouse. I am convinced that words - over and over again - to explain how to click one of the buttons on your mouse (or trackball or trackpad). Hot Button Issue — By way of disclosure and background, you the vast majority of should know that I spent five years (1997-2002) managing the What I want to be able to say is, “right-click” (followed by development of Kensington’s MouseWorks software for both people who read what whatever it is you should right-click on, and what you should Mac and Windows, which, among other things, enables users do afterwards), but what my editors invariably make me say is to define the functions of all the buttons on certain Kensington I write about the “Control-click (or right-click)” — that is, hold down the Control input devices. During my tenure at the company, we released a key while clicking, or alternatively click the right—hand mouse trackball with 11 buttons and a touchpad device called WebRacer Mac are sufficiently button. Presumably they do this because of a belief that a large with no fewer than 22 buttons! The software has apparently percentage of Mac users don’t know what a right click is, don’t languished in recent years — I don’t know anything about attuned to modern have an input device that can perform a right click, or have that, so don’t ask! — but I’m just saying that my professional deliberately chosen not to enable this feature on their input involvement with multi-button input devices goes way back, and ways to know exactly device — meaning the only guaranteed way to get the desired undoubtedly gives me a certain bias. end result is to Control-click. After all, for many years Macs had what I mean by right- only one-button mice, and to this day don’t require two-button I should also mention another bias here at the outset: I’m right- mice, so to tell someone to right-click — so the thinking goes — handed. As my wife, who’s left-handed, would be quick to point clicking and that no is to tell them to do something that may be incomprehensible or out, the whole notion of a “right click” is a bit discriminatory, even impossible. as left-handed people tend to use their left index finger to click further explanation their primary mouse button (on the right side of the mouse) and Except I don’t buy that. It was true a decade ago, of course, but their middle finger to click the secondary button (on the left side is necessary, even if it is far from true today. But for those few of you who are still of the mouse). So the neutral term — and the one Apple uses - scratching your heads over the notion of a right click, I want to is “secondary click,” but the nature of English is such that that they physically lack a not only clear things up once and for all but also persuade you expression works well as a noun but less well as a verb. that a second mouse button (or its trackpad equivalent) is a true I can tell you to “right-click” something, but it sounds awkward to second mouse button. friend that will, once you get properly acquainted, fill you with “secondary-click” something. So, with apologies to the lefties out

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there, I follow the convention (long established in the Of course, the Mac’s interface didn’t remain unique Giving the Finger to the Right Button — Mac users Windows world) of using “right-click” to mean “click for long. Microsoft Windows 1.0, released in 1985, immediately noticed and complained about the the secondary button,” which is to say the logical right supported (but didn’t require) a mouse, as did fact that it required two hands to do this common button, even if it happens to be physically located on graphical shells developed for various versions of activity that Windows users could perform with one the left (or top or bottom or elsewhere) on your input Unix, as well as a long list of other operating systems finger. But Apple’s position was that Mice Have One device of choice. that are no longer with us. What was different Button - period. The company steadfastly refused about the Windows approach, however, was the to complicate the elegant Mac design by adding an A Scroll Down Memory Lane — Let’s zip back in assumption that your mouse would have (at least) extra, potentially confusing button. After all, what is time to 1984. The Mac is brand new, and one of its two buttons. (In much of the Unix world, three- there about that second button to hint at its use? How nifty innovations (although not in fact invented by button mice were the norm, but I’m going to ignore will people know what it’s for? What if they click the Apple) is a little box called a mouse. The mouse made that in this article.) wrong button by mistake and get unexpected results? the Mac’s unique graphical interface possible, and No, those things aren’t consistent with the smooth, introduced an entirely new way for people to interact So, why the extra button? Microsoft wanted to give uncluttered design of the Mac. Apple wasn’t merely with computers. Instead of having to memorize users and developers more flexibility. The left mouse saying Mac mice shouldn’t have multiple buttons, but commands that you must type on a keyboard, you button selected or activated what you clicked on (just implying that Mac users were wrong to want them. It could point at words and pictures on the screen, as on a Mac), whereas the right button was available wasn’t the Macintosh way. and by clicking that big button on top of the mouse, for developers to use as they saw fit, and in the early tell it to take some action. At the time, some people years of Windows, the behavior of that button varied Of course, Apple wasn’t the only company building saw the mouse as superfluous and confusing — quite a bit. Starting with Windows 95 (released in mice and other pointing devices that could work on a everybody already understands keyboards, and they 1995), standard behavior for the right mouse button Mac, and other developers — including Kensington, work just fine, don’t they? — but it caught on quickly in Windows was to display a pop-up menu at the Logitech, and even Microsoft — were only too enough and soon became a normal way to operate a pointer location with a list of commands relevant to happy to meet users’ demands by selling multi- computer. whatever it was you clicked on. And that’s what most button Mac mice. These invariably required custom people have come to assume that “right click” means, driver software to connect the extra button(s) to The original Mac mouse had only one button, because at least on a PC. some activity, and in order to make the right mouse the operating system was designed to need just one. button produce a contextual menu the same way the Apple wanted to make the operation of the computer By late 1997, Apple had clearly seen the value of right button does in Windows, the software simply as simple and obvious as possible, and one of their those contextual pop-up menus, which could simplify emulated a Control-click. Mice with more than two design principles was to make the user interface activities such as copying, pasting, or modifying buttons let you assign other activities (such as double- “discoverable” — that is, it should be as easy as whatever text, icon, or other object happened to be clicking, emulating menu commands, or typing text) possible to figure out what everything does and how under the mouse pointer. With the release of Mac to the additional buttons. to perform any operation, with minimal dependence OS 8, Mac users finally got the capability that had on documentation, labels, and other external cues. As been standard on Windows for a couple of years, but It wasn’t until the release of Mac OS X in 2001 that history has shown, that approach worked remarkably because Mac mice still had only one button, the way Apple built support for multi-button mice directly into well, and the single-button mouse was an important to access this capability was to hold down the Control the operating system. You could plug any old 2-button contributing factor to the success of the Mac in key while clicking that one button. That was the USB mouse into a Mac running Mac OS X 10.0, and particular, and of graphical interfaces generally. genesis of the Control-click. that right button would magically pop up a contextual

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menu — no extra software or Control-click emulation which makes them harder to find. Apple’s Human For another, the default behavior of Mac OS X was required! And if your mouse had more than two Interface Guidelines, by contrast, stipulate [1]: “Always to treat both the left and right sensors on top of the buttons, Mac OS X understood them and passed ensure that contextual menu items are also available mouse the same — as a standard click. That is, out them along to the active application for processing in as menu commands. A contextual menu is hidden of the box, the Mighty Mouse was still a one-button whatever way it deemed fit. by default and a user might not know it exists, so it mouse! Users were now obligated to change a setting should never be the only way to access a command. in System Preferences explicitly to make the right That development was a boon to users and a In particular, you should not use a contextual menu “button” perform a right click. convenience to companies making multi-button mice, as the only way to access an advanced or power-user but Apple persisted in its practice — which by this feature.” Alas, Apple occasionally ignores their own Apple’s recent release of the Magic Mouse has point appeared rather bloody-minded — of selling policy, as in the case of iPhoto’s Detect Missing Faces continued this trend. Now not only have the buttons only single-button mice. and Rescan for Location commands, but at least disappeared but so has the scrolling mechanism, the principle is sound. One other note: for better or replaced by a more capable, but invisible, multi-touch But surely, you might be thinking, Apple had a valid worse, unlike Windows, Mac OS X has never had a sensor. Unfortunately, the Magic Mouse has only two point — two buttons are indeed more complicated concept of right-click-and-drag, as you might do to logical buttons rather than four, which is a giant step than one, right? To understand why having two create a shortcut, for example.) backward in functionality. buttons can reduce complexity rather than increase it, you have only to think of a digital clock. Have you Apple Gets It Right, Sort Of — Hell finally froze over Tap Into the Power — The story regarding right- ever tried to set the time on a clock with just one in August 2005 when Apple introduced the Mighty clicking on laptops is a bit more complicated. No button? You have to hold it down until the right time Mouse (now called the Apple Mouse due to a legal Apple laptop has ever had more than one physical cycles around — and if you don’t release it at the right complication over the name). This new rodent had trackpad button, and current models have no visible time, you must wait for another cycle, a real pain. physical sensors on both left and right sides of the top, buttons at all — the entire trackpad is a button, and With two buttons you can go at multiple speeds, or a switch that activated when you squeezed the mouse, how it behaves depends on the number, position, and forward/backward, depending on the clock’s design. and a sensor that detected when the tiny trackball motion of fingers touching the pad. With three, maybe you can toggle AM/PM with a (for scrolling) was pressed down. This made for a total single press rather than having to cycle through 24 of four logical buttons, even though the case had no For a long time, the only way users of Mac laptops hours. And if the clock has a full keypad, it’s simpler visible physical buttons (you press the entire top of the could display a contextual menu was to hold down still - just type in the exact time and you’re done. So, case to click, and the left or right “button” registers the Control key while clicking the single trackpad multiple buttons may look more complicated, but in depending on which part of the case your finger is in button (or use an external pointing device). Trackpads fact they sometimes make the user interface simpler contact with). Finally, using a genuine Apple mouse, on Mac laptops introduced since January 2005 have because they reduce the complexity of the action you users could right-click properly — and then some! the option — if you enable it — of producing a right- must perform to accomplish some task. Multi-button click response when you hold two fingertips on the mice are the same way. Interestingly, though, the fact that the Mighty Mouse trackpad and click the button (on some models) or had the equivalent of four buttons didn’t seem to tap with two fingers at the same time (on others). (On the other hand, despite the fact that Windows change Apple’s official stance. For one thing, the Even before that, one could use Raging Menace’s $15 had right-clicking long before the Mac did, Microsoft mouse’s physical design meant Apple could maintain Sidetrack [2] software to “right-click” by tapping on made what I regard as a poor design choice: they the illusion that it still wasn’t selling a multi-button the trackpad. And beginning with the MacBook Air made some actions available only via a right click, mouse (or in fact a mouse with any buttons at all). introduced in February 2008, Mac laptops began using

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 21 of 36 Mac Tutorial

multi-touch trackpads that optionally produce a right two hands. Even if you normally keep both hands •• For the Apple Magic Mouse, open the Mouse pane click response when you tap in a designated (lower on the keyboard, you’ll probably find, with a day or of System Preferences. Make sure Secondary Click left or lower right) corner of the trackpad. With that two of practice, that right-clicking requires less effort is checked, and choose either Left or Right from configuration, it can literally be a right click, but in and coordination than Control-clicking — and that it the pop-up menu to determine which side you any case, laptop users have no longer needed both quickly becomes second nature. should press for a secondary click. hands to get at contextual menus for several years. And if you don’t yet use contextual menus at all, well, •• For Mac laptops, open the Trackpad pane Getting Right to the Point — As far as I can tell, you don’t know what you’re missing. Because that of System Preferences and check either Tap Apple no longer sells single-button mice at all. Your pop-up menu is right at your pointer location, you Trackpad Using Two Fingers for Secondary Click or current choices are the Apple Mouse (four logical needn’t move the pointer across a (possibly large) Place Two Fingers on Trackpad and Click Button buttons, wired) or Magic Mouse (two logical buttons, screen to access common menu commands such as for Secondary Click. wireless). Every desktop Mac model introduced in Paste, Duplicate, Label, and many others - depending, October 2005 or later that included a mouse came of course, on context. Even if you prefer keyboard •• For third-party pointing devices with their own with a multi-button mouse, and every laptop Mac shortcuts to menu commands (as I do most of the software, follow the documentation included to model introduced in January 2005 or later has a time), there are often cases in which you must select assign a right (or secondary) click to the button of trackpad that can produce a secondary click with one something (with the mouse) before performing a your choice. hand. So everyone whose Mac is four years old or command. When you can select and perform the newer has the capability to right-click, whether or not command with one click, rather than selecting first, And that’s it. Point at something, click your secondary it’s enabled in System Preferences. Anyone running returning your hand(s) to the keyboard, and then button (typically with your middle finger), and notice any version of Mac OS X with a third-party multi- pressing some keys, you save all sorts of effort. what happens. Try it again with other things — text button mouse, trackball, or trackpad can also right- selections in various programs, icons in the Finder, click. And even users of Macs running System 7 can — If I’ve persuaded you to give right-clicking a try and graphics in a drawing application, and so on — and with a third-party input device and its accompanying you have a pointing device that supports it (which, I take note of how the commands change. Once you’ve software — perform a right click. believe, should be pretty much everyone reading this), gotten into the habit of performing common actions you can turn on the feature somewhere in System this way, you’ll never want to go back to a single- In short, Mac users who lack the hardware capability Preferences. The exact method depends on which button mouse. And you’ll know exactly what I mean to right-click are increasingly few and far between, version of Mac OS X you’re using, whether you have when I tell you to right-click! and the vast majority of those could remedy that a wired or Bluetooth pointing device, a trackpad, or situation, if they choose to do so, with nothing more some combination of these, and whether or not your than a $5, two-button mouse. device is made by Apple. But in general, do one of the [1]: http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/ following: DOCUMENTATION/UserExperience/Conceptual/ If you are one of those people without an input device AppleHIGuidelines/XHIGMenus/XHIGMenus. that can right-click - or if you have the capability •• For older Apple mice and third-party pointing html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/ but haven’t enabled it - I urge you to join the ranks devices without their own software, open the TP30000356-TPXREF113 of multiple clickers at your earliest opportunity! To Mouse pane of System Preferences. Choose reiterate, the key advantage is that you’ll be able to Secondary Button from the pop-up menu pointing [2]: http://www.ragingmenace. display a contextual menu with one finger, rather than to the button you want to use for right-clicking. com/software/sidetrack/

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 22 of 36 Product Review

Coming To Grips With The Snowball Microphone By Bill Kingsley

have a Snowball microphone that I use for iChat sweetening/post, internet telephony, sessions. The Snowball is a USB microphone from internal conferencing, recording Blue Microphones, that is touted as a professional lectures, poetry slams, spoken word microphoneI at a consumer-friendly price. The performances and speeches by Snowball does not offer important functionality that your favorite politician—generally is common among much more expensive studio units; anywhere where you need an easy- it provides USB 2.0 connectivity only, and just three to-use microphone and you have sensitivity modes. But it is suitable for capturing both access to a computer with a USB Figure 1. Just look at the Snowball microphone and you a single voice or musical instrument, and for recording port. Happy recording! can tell how it got its name. a group of people or instruments — and for doing so with good fidelity. Presumably the Snowball was also designed to capture market share in a somewhat neglected market niche, As the manufacturer describes it: namely one where excellent fidelity is desired but the The Snowball was designed to budget does not support studio-quality versatility. It provide a wide range of applications has a list price of only $100; as of this writing, Amazon where a high quality transducer is is offering it for less than $65. needed, but so is ease of use and setup. Though most professional sound engineers prefer certain What you get microphones for certain applications, The Snowball, presumably so named because of its we designed the Snowball for a design (see Figure 1), has a fixed digital 16-bit output wide variety of sources. Here are at 44.1 KHz, that the manual describes as “just like a some suggested applications we CD.” There is a slide switch on the back of the chassis came up with when we were locked (see Figure 2), a 3-position mode selector switch, that in Blue’s patented anechoic think is used to select omni-directional pickup or directional tank: instrument and voice for music (cardioid) operation. Omni-directional is appropriate production/pre-production/demos, for auditing multiple sound sources that are separated DV-looping/dialog, podcasting, in space; directional is used for recording a solo Figure 2. On the back of the Snowball you can see the sound effects, audio sampling, performance, such as a single-person podcast, while USB connection, and the mode-selector switch. interactive programming, video reducing interference from ambient noise. There is a

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 23 of 36 Product Review

third mode, which can be selected to attenuate the The microphone comes with a small tripod (see signal in order to avoid overload and distortion. Figure 3), and with the USB cable you need to hook it up to your computer. There are two microphone cartridges nestled in foam inside the chassis. These are the size of small buttons, The Pros circular in shape, about one half inch wide and maybe The Snowball, its tripod and cable, are heavy and a quarter inch deep, with several perforations on their solid, well designed to provide simplicity of operation, front sides for sound entry. One of the cartridges, the and are aesthetically pleasing. The chassis is available one for omni-directional pickup, also has perforations in four different finishes: textured white, gloss white, on its back side in order to collect more sound from gloss black and brushed aluminum. I selected brushed elsewhere in the room. aluminum, but found that it was much more highly reflective than expected — more like Edsel chrome than Apple aluminum. If I were to do it again, I would choose the textured white.

Also on the plus side, installation is incredibly easy. In Figure 4 (Below). Go to System Preferences, to the fact, the most difficult step by far in the installation Figure 3 (Top). Here is the Snowball mounted on its Sound pane, click on Input, and select the Snowball process is getting the product out of its packaging. It tripod, next to a Logitech Webcam. microphone from the list of available options. That’s it. is obvious that considerable time and effort has been expended on the design and creation of the display box. Once tediously opened (or ripped vigorously asunder), the box reveals: (1) a spherical microphone chassis about 4” in diameter; (2) a tripod which can be adjusted from 4½” to 6” high; (3) a 6’ heavy-duty shielded USB cable; and (4) a typically small manual written in both French and English. The manual includes abbreviated instructions for use of the Snowball with Apple’s GarageBand application, as well as with several Windows applications.

Screwing the chassis onto its included tripod does pose a small challenge, because the tripod provides an unobtrusive swivel function, which can permit the chassis to be rotated endlessly without effecting any thread tightening. Once the knurled swivel adjustment is discovered, and mounting completed, connect one end of the USB cable to the chassis and the other end

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to a powered USB port on the computer, or to a powered USB hub, to power up the In addition, there is no ON/OFF switch, and no indication of the microphone being unit for use. “live.” The bright LED atop the chassis glows red when the USB cable is attached to a powered socket, but that does not indicate whether or not the microphone is The final step is to designate the Snowball as the audio input source. Go to System passing data to an application. Preferences, click on Sound, and then on the Input tab. Select Snowball from the list, and you are good to go. (See Figure 4.) And the Verdict is . . . So far, I have used the Snowball only for iChat sessions with a single person at The manual mentions an optional accessory, namely a “ringer,” which provides each end of the line, so I am not in a position to evaluate the microphone’s full elastic shock mounting for the Snowball — or for any microphone having a capabilities. In this application, however, it has done very well. In comparison to the standard thread mount. Since the chassis also meets the thread standard, the built-in microphone in the MacBook Pro, the sound is fuller with greater dynamic microphone can be mounted on any conventional tripod as well as the short one range, and I am able to move about in my chair without the sound level falling off that is shipped with it. appreciably, even when I am not speaking directly into the computer screen. The cons that I have identified seem minor compared to the benefits of the product. The Cons According to the manual, the Snowball sample rate and word length are not user- All in all I am well pleased with the Snowball, and would recommend it. definable. Also, since the Snowball is USB-only, it cannot be used with a typical audio mixer.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 25 of 36 Software Tutorial

My Adventures Transcribing Audio Recordings into Meeting Minutes By Neil Ferguson

am the recording secretary of an organization that, like the methods I use, they have little or no cost QuickTime Player application (QuickTime X in Mac OS X for which I prepare minutes of weekly meetings. associated with them. Anyway, here it goes. 10.6), which comes with every Mac; or CD Spin Doctor, I have also had the distinct pleasure of recording which I received free with Toast, a disc burn program. theI minutes of a Washington Apple Pi Board Meeting I have two options for making a recording (Figure 1). Now here is the rub: I can end up with three different when the Secretary was absent. (When the WAP I can use my MacBook, with its internal microphone, file types, depending on the device and the software President asked for a volunteer to take the minutes, to record directly onto my computer, or I can record applications I use. QuickTime records in mov format, I figured I already do it on a regular basis, so up using my Olympus WS-300M recorder, a small digital CD Spin Doctor in aiff format, and the Olympus voice went my hand.) That experience in turn led to this voice recorder that fits nicely in my shirt pocket. If recorder in wma format. Go figure. article about how I transcribe an audio recording of a I use the Olympus recorder, I have to connect the meeting into a written record. A short disclaimer: there recorder to the Mac through a USB connection to Transcribing the audio requires stopping and may be better methods for doing this sort of thing, and upload the recorded audio file. When recording with repositioning the playback head many, many times I, for one, would like to know about them — provided the MacBook, I use one of two applications: the while typing up a meeting’s minutes. I find that the aiff format in CD Spin Doctor works best for me. CD Figure 1. Two options for recording a meeting: Spin Doctor presents a graphic waveform of the audio a MacBook or a digital recorder (Olympus WS-300M). that is helpful, and it also has a time scale that shows The MacBook’s internal microphone works quite well but fractions of a minute. This allows for fairly precise positioning the laptop for the best reception is not as positioning of the playhead for playing back sections easy as placing a small digital recorder like the Olympus when I have trouble deciphering what was said. in just the right spot. Conversely, the QuickTime Player interface shows the audio track sans waveform. The playhead in QuickTime can easily be manipulated, but repositioning to a precise spot in the soundtrack is not easy. I have been told that I could use the arrow keys to make small movements of the playhead, but as of this writing I have not been successful in getting that to work for me. (Note to self: ask about this feature on the TCS.) Using the wma formatted output of the digital recorder requires a third-party application called VLC, which is similar to QuickTime but not as easy to use.

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Overall, I lean toward using CD Spin Doctor because it is very easy to use. When you launch CD Spin Doctor you see three buttons. Click the one labeled Start a New Recording, and an Audio Recording screen pops up with a red Ready to Record button. Click it and you are in business. Pretty simple. The other controls are self- explanatory too. Another feature of CD Spin Doctor that I like is the ability to set the length of time of the recording. With the other applications, if I forget to stop the recording after the meeting, I can end up with a huge file of mostly meaningless recording. Using the timed recording function in CD Spin Doctor avoids this problem. The maximum time you can set for automatically recording is two hours, which is plenty for me; I have never had to go more than 65 minutes. Should you need more time, though, I am guessing you would have to start a second recording session. (Boy, I would hate to have to transcribe that meeting!) There is a help file in CD Spin Doctor that explains how you can do many things with the application.

Since CD Spin Doctor works with aiff formatted files, if I record using QuickTime or using the Olympus recorder, I need to convert my audio files. For this I use yet another software program, called Switch, by NCH Software, which was free when I started this business. QuickTime will also convert mov files to aiff files Above: The Olympus The other tool I use in the transcribing process is over-the-ear headphones. These WS-300M digital recorder are much better than the computer’s speakers for listening to the playback. One mated to a MacBook for annoyance though when using CD Spin Doctor: if I remove the headphone cable uploading the recorded sound from the audio out jack (on purpose or otherwise), the CD Spin Doctor program file. The recorder easily crashes, and I end up losing my position in the editing process. Luckily the disassembles and then cleverly application has a time line that I can use to reposition the playhead right back to attaches via the Mac's USB the previous editing position – or at least within a few words of it. port.

To sum it up, CD Spin Doctor, QuickTime Player, VLC, and even iTunes all play back Left: The small Olympus audio recordings quite well, but when it comes to transcribing that audio I find that WS-300M recorder works great CD Spin Doctor is the best. for recording meetings. When it comes time to download the file, the battery pack detaches to reveal a USB connector which attaches directly to the computer. No wires, no fuss.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 27 of 36 Tips & Tricks Tips Appearance settings, navigating in Numbers, and enlarging images in Finder By Bob Jarecke

Here are more Tips & Tricks for your computing pleasure. 1. Appearance Preferences We hope you find them helpful. Have you ever fully studied all the options available in System Preferences? There are loads of settings within this important Do you have some favorite time-saving steps or computing tricks system utility application. The Appearance preferences (top row, that others might enjoy trying out? Just let a Journal editor know first one) is a case in point. When you open this setting pane, via [email protected] and we will make sure it gets published. it looks as though there isn’t much there, but don’t be fooled.

&Tricks Simply changing the Appearance color will have system-wide effects.

After using Mac OS X for years, most of us are familiar with the row of three colored dots located in the upper left corner of most every application window. From left to right, the dots are red, yellow, and green — but if the dots weren’t color-coded, would you know what each one does?

It so happens that when the Appearance setting is changed to Graphite, those three dots are no longer color-coded. They all are grey, and the only way to determine a dot‘s function is to place the cursor over it. Now a symbol appears within the dot; an X (x), dash (—), and plus sign (+) replace the colors. Why did Apple do this? I believe it has to do with a system-wide appearance change that followed Apple switching to the Graphite color theme. Even after Apple moved on to the brushed-chrome look, the Graphite Appearance setting is still around, and selecting it will take away some valuable colored clues.

2. AppleWorks versus Numbers I have long been an avid user of AppleWorks, and the application Illustration 1. In System Preferences, changing the Appearance preference from Blue to Graphite can keeps working well despite new iterations of Mac OS X. (Thank have some far reaching effects, and can eliminate some intuitive clues. God!). Of course, I was intrigued when Apple introduced Numbers,

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 28 of 36 Tips & Tricks

Illustration 2. In Finder, Column view, you can enlarge thumbnail images within the confines of the view. Just hold the Option key and click on the image; to reverse, hold Shift – Option and click.

the spreadsheet program within the iWorks suite of applications, but I wanted to trackpad or mouse. In one important respect, AppleWorks and Numbers work be sure that it had the features I most relied on in AppleWorks. There were two differently. In AppleWorks, the Formula Bar is the only place where one can edit a features that were lacking. cell’s content. The keystroke combination of Option — Left Arrow places a blinking insertion point in the Formula Bar at the start of the cell’s content; Option — Right AppleWorks has the capability of adding a hyperlink that can take you directly Arrow places it at the end of the entry. This allows me to use the application with to another cell within the same spreadsheet. This feature is very handy. It allows my hands locked to the keyboard. me to easily move to other areas of the spreadsheet or go directly to a specific cell. Hyperlinks are available in Numbers, but only email addresses or a Web page Numbers works differently. You have a couple of choices for editing cell content. URL. Okay, I could always scroll to other spreadsheet sections or use the page up While in an active cell, you can use the trackpad or mouse to click or highlight or page down keys, but it is not nearly as convenient as the hyperlink feature in in the Formula Bar where you want to start editing or make input as desired on AppleWorks. Still, it turned out this was not a deal breaker. that cell’s content. You can also simply start typing text or numbers — but if you do this, the first keystroke will clear all of the cell’s content. You can change the I am a predominantly keyboard person, so for me the single most important content of the cell this way, but there is no option to edit it. What I needed was a feature was the ability to edit the contents of a cell without having to use the keystroke combination to place a blinking insertion point in the active cell.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 29 of 36 Tips & Tricks

Fortunately I found it! Typing Option – Return places an editing cursor (blinking insertion point) at the end of the active cell’s entry. Then I use the Left Arrow key to move to another point within the cell, or I use the Command (Apple key) – Left Arrow to move to the beginning of the cell.

This means that I just might be able to migrate more of my spreadsheet work to Numbers. That’s good to know. Even though I am happy with AppleWorks, I have an ominous feeling that Lion (Mac OS X 10.7) is going to break AppleWorks big time.

3. Viewing Images in Finder’s Column View With recent versions of Mac OS X, there have been notable improvements in Finder. Column view was added a couple of iterations back, and in Mac OS X Snow Leopard additional capabilities enhanced the viewing options of the small images of a file.

If the file is graphic in nature, a simple tap on the Space bar will launch the Quick Look feature and an enlarged view of the image will spring up. The Quick Look view will be half screen size; it can be enlarged to full screen by clicking on the Full Screen icon (the opposing arrows) near the bottom of the view window. If you have a whole host of related images that you want to view together, select all (CMD – A) and tap the Space Bar. The first image in the group will be displayed, and you will see the Index Sheet icon (four boxes) at the bottom of the view window. Select this icon, and you will now have the equivalent of a contact sheet of the images in front of you. You can enlarge any image by simply clicking on it in the index sheet.

In Mac OS X Snow Leopard, there is another viewing trick for a closer look at an image in Column view. Place your cursor over the image, depress the Option key, and click on the thumbnail image. The cursor changes to an eyeglass and the image enlarges with each successive click. Release the Option key and the cursor changes to a multidirectional arrow; now you can move the image to view other parts of it. Viewing an image in this manner within the small confines of the thumbnail view is not optimum, so open the image first in Quick Look for a larger view, hold the Option key and click. The image is now enlarged, giving a much better presentation. To reverse the enlarging process, use the Shift – Option keys when clicking on the image and the image will step backward toward its original size.

Do you have some tricks of your own? Let us know so we can share them with Illustration 3. In Finder, when using Quick Look, you can enlarge images by holding the other readers; just use the feedback option on the bottom of page 2. the Option key and clicking on the image. To reverse, hold Shift – Option and click.

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 30 of 36 Pi Comic

hal, open the file hal, open the damn file, hal open the... please hal!

WINDOWS NT CRASHED, I AM THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH. NO KEYBOARD PRESENT NO ONE HEARS YOUR SCREAMS. HIT F1 TO CONTINUE ZEN ENGINEERING

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 31 of 36 Washington Apple Pi Meetings Your Digital Life – A Two-Part Series How digits can make your life simpler and easier! This March/April edition of the Journal highlights the topic of digitizing your data. From the simple steps of converting household records to electronic files or scanning decades-old photographic slides, this issue introduces an important theme that has far- reaching ramifications for just about everyone.

The March and April General Meetings will expand on the digitizing theme. Presenters will cover the basics as well as more sophisticated means of using digitized data in our everyday life. Attend these meetings and learn how there is more to going paperless than meets the eye!

March 26, 9:30 a m. . at GMU with Larry Kerschberg presenting April 16, 9:30 a .m . at GMU with Travis Good presenting Note: This meeting is on the third Saturday because Easter falls on the fourth Sunday of April. The March General Meeting will begin a two-part series that we have termed Your Digital Life. Dr. Larry Kerschberg will The April General Meeting is the second part of the Your Digital Life series and it will take you demonstrate the use of the Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner to archive further into the digital world. Travis Good will offer up a whole host of ideas and methods for paper records, and will discuss how to best utilize software using your computer and other Apple devices together to make life more interesting and fun. products, including cloud-based software and services, to make Using the iPhone, iPad, digital camera, and a MacBook Pro, Travis will wow you with all the organizing and finding your data a snap. The options can be options for saving and sharing your life’s story with family and friends. This meeting is a simple or complex; you decide how much of this information must-attend. can enhance your lifestyle. Prepare to be amazed! The meeting will be held on the GMU campus in the Enterprise building, RoomA 178. The Pi Web site has the complete agenda with a map detailing parking and the meeting location. Remember The meeting will be held on the GMU campus in the Enterprise to check the Web site‘s meeting page to learn of any late changes. building, Room 178. The Pi Web site has the full agenda and a map showing how to get there. Check back closer to the http://www.wap.org/events/april2011/ meeting date for any late updates or changes. Pi General Meetings are planned and executed by Pi volunteers. Please, consider helping at these events, as well as with other Pi activities. Volunteers are welcome! http://www.wap.org/events/march2011/

As always, check the Pi Web site for additional, updated details on these meetings .

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 32 of 36 Volunteer Opportunities

Members Helping Members

Dedicated volunteers are the lifeblood of the Pi . Whether it is installing a hard drive at a Clubhouse Saturday event, answering questions at a General Meeting, or placing advice on the TCS Forums, there are many ways to pitch in and help, depending on a member’s interests and talents. Please consider making a commitment to ensure that the Pi remains a strong, viable, and energetic club dedicated to helping its members . For certain, all volunteer efforts are appreciated . Check out these areas where assistance is needed .

Featured Position – iChat Help Volunteer Journal Managing Editor Apple’s iChat application offers a way for Pi members to help other The Journal is a time-honored, well established publi- members from the comfort of your own home. Interested? Read on. cation of the Washington Apple Pi and it is in need of someone to take over as Managing Editor. In addition, this iChat is an ideal means for direct communication using text, voice, person will be a member of the Pi’s Publications Commit- video, or, in the last two versions of Mac OS X, screen sharing. With the tee, which has oversight and responsibility for all printed Pi having commercial grade servers and server software, we now have material and electronic messages that emanate from the the means to host our own iChat network. We are currently testing the Pi. The job is challenging, but very rewarding. capability of this interactive networking software, and the first results are positive. If you enjoy writing and want to help the Pi progress, this is the job for you. Apply within! So what will Pi iChat Help volunteers do? Essentially, the task is much like other help scenarios in which members have questions or a prob- [email protected] Contact with any questions or lem. But instead of a face-to-face encounter, the primary means for to express your interest. handling the matter will be use of the versatile iChat software. What’s that? You don’t use iChat or haven’t even launched it yet? No problem, we will train you. We will also be providing guidance on how to deal with common issues, and on problem-solving techniques, and will sup- ply a list of associate helpers who can help with particular issues. All you need to bring to the equation is your people skills and a genuine desire to help.

If you have even the slightest interest or any questions, contact the Management Committee Chair, Jay Castillo, at [email protected].

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General Meeting Manager Pi Fillings Editor Our General Meeting programs need someone dedicated to the planning and managing of these important club events. We need someone to take over producing the Pi Fillings discs. The job includes coordinating meeting activities, making Pat Fauquet has been doing it for years, but it’s time for any necessary arrangements, and managing the behind-the- someone else to lead the charge. Are you up for it? scenes specific tasks. While it sounds like a job for Superman, that really is not the case. If you have juggled household We are reviewing the current format and publication cycle of duties or been an office administrator, you have the skills. the software disc. We are interested in diversifying the content While another Pi manager emcees the meeting, you will be and are open to suggestions on how to add value to the disc. making him or her look good! Because this activity needs to be approved by the Pi’s No previous experience is needed; we will train you. Some of Management Committee, the volunteer will serve as the tasks that you will need to do are to search out interesting an adjunct member of that committee. This volunteer and pertinent material and files, organize the disc with the opportunity is guaranteed to keep you busy, and when the mined material and with other files supplied separately, and meeting is completed and meeting equipment packed up, design a label for the disc. The production process will be lunch is on the Pi. separate and is not necessarily part of the job. Contact [email protected] to express interest and we’ll go Send your inquires to [email protected]. from there.

CLASSIFIEDS:

Seeking: iPhone Developer for new projects and app updates. Have some time and experience? let me know! [email protected].

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 34 of 36 Parting Words

One more thing … FREE! One copy of Paperless Software to be raffled off! Boy, the Pi has a deal for you!

Available: one, fully licensed copy of Paperless by Mariner Software to any Pi member, with one small stipulation. The lucky member will be requested to write a review of the software for publication in the next edition of the Journal. To qualify for the drawing, send an email request to [email protected]. The email must arrive within 14 days of the publishing date of the Journal. After the deadline date, a winner will be selected from the list via a random drawing. Get your bid in now!

So what does this software application do? From the Mariner Software Web site:

Paperless has the ability to keep up and maintain the task of reducing your need for paper. Simply scan your receipts, bills, statements, warranty cards, business cards – any paper document and the OCR function of Paperless recognizes the data and adds it to the Details Window. Make more notes; assign categories — all the tools you need for a neat and clean digital filing system is all right there in Paperless.”

“Paperless will work with just about any scanner through Apple’s Image Capture method or by using a TWAIN-compliant scanner, but we highly recommend that you use the Fujitsu ScanSnap line of scanners (S1500M, S1300 or the S1100)

Minimum System Requirements: Intel only Mac Mac OS X 10 .5 .8 or higher

So what are you waiting for? Go Paperless! Click on the email link to [email protected] right now and get your entry recorded .

Washington Apple Pi Journal March – April 2011 35 of 36

the pi pi

Washington Apple Pi

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